Apparatus for impregnating cord



June 24, 1952 M. E. HANS EN APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING CORD Filed Feb.1, 1947 Patented June 24, 1952 APPARATUS FOR IMPRE GNATING CORD MerrillE. Hansen, Silver Lake Village, Ohio, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to The B. F. Goodrich Company, Akron,Ohio, a corporation of New York 1 Application February 1, 1947, SerialNo. 725,818

3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a method of impregnating cord andapparatus therefor and particularly to a method of impregnating cordwith a colloidal dispersion, such as latex, and a preferred apparatustherefor.

Twisted cord, such as multiple strand cotton or rayon cord, is readilysurface coated with a material such as rubber by passing it through acolloidal dispersion of the material. In many cases, however, it isdesirable to impregnate the cord as well as coat it with the colloidalmaterial. The twisted cord resists such impregnation and usually only asurface layer is deposited. Several methods have been proposed toaccomplish impregnation with latex, such as the method set forth byRitzert in U. S. Pats. Nos. 2,040,105 and 2,077,492 in which cordimmersed in latex is passed continuously about a series of verticalrollers disposed in a staggered line through the latex or the methodtaught by Whiffen in U. S. Pat. No. 1,745,285 in which the cord isflexed at a plurality of points while immersed in the latex.

This invention is concerned with impregnating dry cord with a colloidaldispersion by alternately untwisting and twisting the cord whileimmersed in the dispersion. It is an object of this invention to providesimple means for continuously accomplishing this impregnation, suchmeans to be of a construction not readily subject to mechanical failureand adapted to be used with different sized cords with the change fromone cord to another being quickly and easily accomplished. It is afurther object of this invention to thoroughly impregnate the cordrather than to merely superficially coat it with the suspension.

A preferred method of impregnating cord and a preferred form ofapparatus therefor is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken away and in section, ofapparatus adapted to impregnate cord in accordance with this inventionFig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly broken away and insection, along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the paired rotatablereciprocating rolls adapted to alternately untwist and twist cordpassing thereb-etween; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the change in condition of thecord upon passing between the reciprocating rolls.

In impregnating cord according to this invention, the alternateuntwisting and twisting serves a twofold function. The untwistingoperation mechanically separates the strands and also separates theindividual threads in each strand allowing the latex to penetrate thecord. The twisting operation squeezes the excess latex out of the cordand when the cord is again untwisted the cord strands are moved throughthe latex allowing the latex to penetrate into the cord and effectcomplete impregnation. 1

With reference to a preferred method of efiecting impregnation of cordaccording to this invention, the preferred apparatus (Fig. 1) comprisesa dipping tank 10 adapted to hold a body of latex H. A plurality of cordl2, I2 are continuously introduced into the latex II by means of a cordfeed mechanism l3 adapted to alternately 'untwist and twist the cordsthus introduced. The cords l2, l2 are guided through the latex H andkept immersed therein by an idler roll 14 positioned in the body of thelatex which maintains the reach of the cord under slight tension whiletraversing the bath from the cord feed mechanism 13. The impregnatedcords are continuously removed from the bath by paired squeeze rolls [5and 15a which also remove excess latex from the cord passingtherebetween.

The cord feed mechanism 13 comprises a support housing l6 mounted on abracket member l1 attached to one end of the clipping tank Ill. Thehousing l6 comprises four spaced upright members l8, I9, 20, and 2|.Mounted between the inner pair of uprights l9 and 20 is a pair ofsqueeze rolls 22 and 23 having rubber roller surfaces 24 and 25 andsecured to roll shafts 26 and 2'! by means of pins 28 and 29. The rollshafts 26 and 2'! are journaled in upright members I 8, I 9 and 20 andthe gears 30 and 31 are loosely keyed thereto between the outer pair ofuprights I8 and I9, long keyways 49 and being provided in the shafts topermit gears 30 and 3! to slide longitudinally thereon while rotatingwith the shaft. Gears 30 and 3| which intermesh are actuated by drivegear 32 keyed to drive shaft 33 which is rotated by a chain and sprocketdrive 34 from an external power source (not shown). Spiral compressionsprings 35 and 36 are mounted on the roll shafts 26 and 21 betweensqueeze rolls 22 and 23 and the upright I 9.

The roll shafts 26 and 21 extend through the upright member 20 in whichthey are journaled and cooperate with the reciprocating means indicatedgenerally by the numeral 31. The reciprocating means 31 comprises agenerally rectangular rocker arm 38 rotatably mounted at its midpoint ona fulcrum pin 39 rigidly secured to upright 20 by means of bracket 39a.The ends of the roll shafts 26 and 21 respectively abut freely rotatabledolly wheels 40 and H which are mounted on pins 42 and 43 rigidlysecured on the arm 38 midway between the central fulcrum pin 39 and theends of the arm. Roller wheels 44 and 45 are journaled on each end ofthe arm 38 so as to bear upon the periphery of a rotatable truncated.cylindrical. cam 46- which presents .a slantingyfacei to the rocker arm1 .38. .The ream 46 is keyed to shaft 41 which is journaled in uprightmember 2|. means of a gear train 48 actuated :by drive shaft 33.

The take-off rolls l and-a also,pr.eferab ly comprise rubber coveredsqueeze rolls mounted .on

the opposite ends of the dipping-wank.ilfl zfrom.

the cord feed mechanism 13. The rolls are rotated by a chain andsprocketdrive52 .fromian external power source (not shown) and are syn-The shaft 41 is rotated .by;

chronized with the cord feed I3 to maintainJthe cord under uniformtension. In passing between uthetake-off rolls the impregnated-cord hasexcess --.latex squeezedtherefrom. .In operation, '.the .ro-

tating and. reciprocating means of ,the c0rd..feed mechanism areactuatedby the sameldrive shaft .33. As the rolls arerotated,.thertruncated cylindrical cam 46 also rotates causingrtherocker.arm 38 to rock about the-pin39. .The keyways .49 and sum the rollshaftallowiheLshafts-to slide. back ..and .for.th throughthe, gears 3lland 3|andas the spring 36on one shaft Z'liscompressed. by .thein- 'ward.thrust: of one I end of the rocker arm .38, the .spring on. the; othershaft '26 pushes the shaft .againstthe outwardlyumoving end; of .the.arm.

1'Ihis results in-the rolls moving axially vinv .opposite v..dir.ections to .untwist cord passingcbetween the.

Theidler roll [4 preferably.comprisesarubber covered roll rotatablymounted. horizontally in the tank 18 by. bracket means (not shown). ITheidler rollv l4 -maintains the-cord in. theilatex. under tension andis.r'otatedby the movement of the icordthroufgh the'latex. jThe roll leispreferably 1 provided withjcircumferentialigrooves to prevent-.,transverse motion of the cord.andthus'facilitate untwisting the.cord. LThedegree of untwisting and retwistingto which thecordissubjected may ,be varied by varying the extent. of reciprocation iofi'vthe squeeze rolls orby varyineithe length of the reachv of cordbetween the. cord feed .mechanismc l3 and..the, idler .roll l.4.ifl'hernumberlof time the, cord-is .thus .untwisted and ,retwistedwhilein thelatex'bath may be yaried by-fchanging,- the relative. speedofrotation ,ofthe ,squeezerolls and ofthecamAfi. .lBecauseltheextent ofreciprocation of theisqueezerolls .22 .and.23.. s .thersame ain-bothdirections the .cordnwillnbe. inits. original condition of twistwhen itemerges from. the tank,

and take-off rolls .1 5 and .LG. Inthecase ofitightly twisted cordH-itwill of..courseubeanecessary to maintain theieord underhigherwtensiontthan. in ..t he case of loosely twisted cord toinsurecomplete .untwisting and prevent kinking of. the cord. It

. is desirable to maintainthe latexinmotionwhile I impregnating. the."cord.- togsweep .away. therair -1Whi0h is forced out of the-cord in. theuntwisting rand iretwisting ioperation.

.' The invention has :been :describeob with meter-- -idene chloride,polyvinyl acetate orwmixtures or copolymers. of such materials and:similar materials, as well as suspensions of resins such as:urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine resin and similarmaterials.

Such colloidal dispersions cannot readily pene- :trate twisted cords buthave a tendency to deposit onithesurface-thereof and prevent furtherimpregnation. ;.-By :means of this invention, the individualithreads ofthe multiple strand cord are mechanically separated to permit readyingress of the dispersion'into the body of the cord.

The apparatus for use in practising this invention is relatively simple;and comprises no delicate mechanism subject .tomechanical failure. Apluralitylofcordsmay be simultaneously impregnated ,in-ia. continuousoperation. The, cord, is readily 'threaded,.betweenthe rolls sojthatachangeirom one type of cord to another is quickly and easilyaccomplished.

The invention has beenjdesciibed in consider- .able detail.withreference to a preferred method .of treating cord with latex andapparatus there- .foribut it will be understood that themethod isapplicable to impregnating any twisted multiple strandifiber articlesuch as thread, rope, etc., with .cordwith ailiquid, in combination, acontainer lforsaid liquid, a pair of counter-rotating rolls disposedaboveithe level ,of .saidliquid, said rolls cooperating with each othertoadvance said cord .theiiebetweema second pairof counter-rotatin rollsdisposed above said'liquid level spaced apart from ,thefirst said pairto receivesaid .cordand .tomaintain area'ch of said cord under tension"between said-.spacedpairsof rjolls, means for ro- .tating. said.r'olls; means disposed beneath the-surfaeeof said liquidinsaidcontainer between said spaced. pairsofrolls .for maintaining anintermediate, portion -ofv .said advancin tensioned axially with respect.to each other whilesaid cord ,is advancing.

..2.,.In .an. apparatus for impregnatin :textile .--cord with.afliquid,, in combination," a, 901111811 8 for said liquid, a pair ofcounter-rotating rolls v.coeperating with each other .toadvancesaid.cord

.therebetween,-asecondpairpf. rcounterrrotatinrollsdisposedjabwe.saidvliquid level spaced apart .fromvthe first. said,pairto. .receivesaid, cord and to. maintain areach ,ofwsaid. cord under.tension abetweengsaid spaced pairs. of rolls,..m.eans for rotating saidrolls, an idlerroll disposed beneathih surface of. said .liquidbetween,said.pairs of rolls .to ,maintain at vleast. av portion of said.tensioned reach of cord immersed in .said,. l-iquid, and cam .means forreciprocating-therolls of'thelfirstsaid pair. axially. with respe ct..to.each other whileisaid cord is advancing.

.. .3. In,-;an,; apparatusv for-impregnating. textile :cordwithailiquid, in combination, a container for evsa-id il quid a:-pair,..ofcounter-rotating; rolls dis- -posedad-jacent amargin of said.containenabove 5 the level of said liquid, said rolls cooperating witheach other to advance said cord therebetween, a second pair ofcounter-rotating rolls disposed adjacent an opposite margin of saidcontainer spaced apart from the first said pair above said liquid levelto receive said cord and to maintain a. reach of said cord under tensionbetween said spaced pairs of rolls, means for rotating said rolls, anidler roll disposed beneath the surface of said liquid in said containerbetween said spaced pairs of rolls for maintaining an intermediateportion of said advancing tensioned reach of cord immersed in saidliquid, and cam means for reciproeating the rolls of the first said pairaxially with respect to each other while said cord is advancl5 ing.

MERRILL E. HANSEN.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166,601 Furbush Aug. 10, 1875212,102 Mallison Feb. 11, 1879 874,287 Bayne Dec. 17, 1907 10 1,197,396Price Sept. 5, 1916 1,492,316 Wardwell Apr. 29, 1924 1,745,285 WhiffenJan. 28, 1930 1,877,488 Allen Sept. 13, 1932 2,370,314 Jenner Feb. 27,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 531,910 Germany 1931

